Rescue of Elderly Man Trapped on Balcony by Off-Duty Police Officer

It has recently come to light that an off-duty police officer, while resting at home, rescued an elderly man in his 80s who was trapped on a balcony after hearing a desperate cry for help.

On the morning of the 5th, around 11:30 a.m., Police Officer Lee Soo-dong, who belongs to the Hwanyang District Police Station in Gwangjin, heard the urgent call of "please help me" while at home.

Officer Lee immediately went outside to locate the source of the sound and conducted a careful search of the area.

After the search, he discovered the elderly man trapped on the balcony of a second-floor apartment in a nearby building. Realizing the urgency of the situation, Officer Lee quickly returned to his home to grab his police badge, then identified himself to the elderly man and began the rescue operation.

During the rescue, the elderly man was panicking and unable to remember the passcode for his front door. However, Officer Lee remained composed, obtained the contact information for the man's family, and successfully opened the front door to complete the rescue.

According to a police announcement on the 18th, it was emphasized that some balcony windows are designed with an 'automated locking' mechanism that prevents them from being opened from the outside once closed, highlighting the need for extra caution. The police urged that attention should be paid when accessing balconies to prevent safety accidents.

This incident has been evaluated as a notable example of how the alertness and concern of police officers toward their neighbors can be crucial in emergency situations. It also served as a reminder to raise awareness about preventing safety accidents involving the elderly.

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